Chapter 4

Daniel's utensil dropped to the floor with a loud noise.

"I'm shocked. How come nobody informed me, Louisa? Why didn't you tell me about such an important occurrence?"

Daniel rose abruptly, interrogating me in front of everyone.

"I also find it peculiar that you weren't aware," I replied with a frosty tone.

Barbara, seated next to him, became distressed. She attempted to stand and grab him but lost her balance and tumbled.

She struck the floor heavily, emitting a pained sound.

This time, however, Daniel ignored her completely.

Instead, he seized my hand and rushed out, pulling me along.

I tripped as I followed, unable to escape his grasp.

"Release me!"

I finally managed to break free, my wrist now bearing a red mark.

"Louisa, why did you keep this from me? How could you not tell me about his death? He was my mentor!

"Everyone else knew, except for me. What did you think of me?" Daniel questioned me frantically at the hallway's end.

It was my first time seeing him in such a state, but I felt no compassion.

I was certain I had fulfilled my responsibilities.

He collapsed to the ground, looking up at me.

"Why didn't you inform me?"

Daniel kept repeating the question.

I wiped my tears away, my gaze emotionless as I calmly observed him.

I clarified, "I phoned, but you never picked up. Barbara eventually answered.

"She said you were preparing for a speech and were occupied."

Daniel, incredulous, retrieved his phone.

He scrolled through his call history feverishly, stopping at a week prior.

At last, he noticed the numerous missed calls.

I proceeded, "I sent text messages, WhatsApp messages, and even shared Dad's funeral details on Instagram.

"If you had cared about me, you would have known.

"After seeing so many missed calls, if you had just returned one, you would have been informed."

I finished speaking and leaned wearily against the wall.

Daniel had reopened the wound from the day Roger passed, making me relive the helplessness of being unable to reach him.

"I assumed you were upset with me.

"Barbara told me you couldn't contact me, so you kept calling. I thought you were just being possessive and creating drama..."

I had indeed caused a commotion because of Barbara previously.

Once, when I visited Daniel's office to find him, I couldn't enter without his passcode, so I waited outside.

Unexpectedly, I encountered Barbara.

She scrutinized me, then effortlessly entered his office using the passcode.

Entering the office as if it were her own, she even offered me water.

"Daniel and I collaborate on several projects, so don't mind my presence," Barbara stated.

I was at a loss, unsure how to respond.

When Daniel didn't appear and I decided to leave, Barbara obstructed my path.

She informed me, "Louisa, it's no wonder Daniel doesn't pay attention to you.

"After all, with your purchased foreign education, you don't have much in common."

I immediately grasped her insinuation.

She was implying I wasn't up to their level, and Daniel felt ashamed of me.

I was indeed angry and frustrated then, but my logical side advised against engaging with her.

"Move aside, I'm departing."

"What if I refuse to move?"

I pushed Barbara's hand away and left directly.

That scene happened to be witnessed by Daniel.

He frowned and hurried over, pushing me aside to assist Barbara, who had fallen to the ground.

The force I had used couldn't have caused Barbara to fall.

Even if she had been unsteady, she could have leaned on the wall for support.

"Louisa, if you have an issue with me, confront me, not Bella. She was just here to help," Daniel declared.

"Daniel, Louisa didn't intend harm. She was just in a rush to leave."

Barbara looked at me provocatively, leaning against Daniel.